Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1887-11-04

ne was waking A4ol8 the hlOEes
meditating thus. whens looking up, he
saw, some distance before him, Grace'z
graceful figure.
AS she turned at his call and came
/ toward him he noticed, with more adj
niration than before, her exceeding
4 beauty.
Almost without meaning. before he
thought, the words he had been think.
ing ESCAPED his 1iDSs
Grace, could you love me enough to
become my wife?"
AT this sudden, unexpected address,
the quick blood dyed her face with q
glow Of rich color.
At sight Of her confusion, without
giving her time for a reply. John went
on eagerly; "I did not mean to speak
to You thus abruptly, but I could re-
strain myself no longer. Grace, I love
you, and want you for my wife-to
have and to hold forever. Is there no
vestage in your heart for me of the
affection with which mine is overflow
ing for yOu?"
Grace tried to withdraw the hand
that he had clasped.
ADO not say any more, Mr.. AIainwar-
1 ing. 1 cannot be your wife"
He only clasped her hand the tighter
Grace" he cried, II thought that I
was not an object Of Indifference to you.
Can it be that I have deceived myself?"
The girl trembled, and her eyes low
cred themselves beneath the shade Of
their long, dark lashes.
With a sudden motion he drew her
to him and forced her gaze to meet his.
In that moment he read the truth.
His love was returned.
Yet still once more she repeated, al
| cannot be your wife" And this time
he learned the 'reason-that, though
she could not deny that she cared for
him, sba felt that in the worlds eyes
she was not his equal.
aft I married you, she persisted, in
answer to his pleadings, "tho time
might come when you would repent.
And in the end John was obliged to
be content with her decision, supple
mented. as it was. by her old
fathers approval, that if, after two
years time, during which no communi-
cation should pass between them, he
should return and still desire her for
his wife, she would not then say no.
The two years glidel by and found
Grace Burnham more lovely than ever.
Patiently and assiduously the girl had
studied to improve her education, and
with an active intellect and love for the
task-master, it was no wonder that each
day saw a rapid advancement
And now, though a prince were the
wooer. he might be glad to call Grace
Burnham, "wife."
The time Of probation was ended, but
the days fitted by and yet John did
not return. At length, with a heart
filed with keen pain, the girl was
forced to acknowledge to herself that
her lover had forgotten her; that his
affection had not been strong enough
to outstand the test that she herself
had imposed. Time went by, and to
add to her burden of sorrow her old
| father was taken sick and died, leaving
| her brother and herself orphans, alone
and friendless.
And John, where was he?
The day which was to have seen him
by his loves side found him in "a dark
ened room, delirious with fever.
Months dragged along, and finally
after a hard struggle the fever was
worsted and for a time John
/ MainWarinp came from the
gates of death. Then when
he was strong enough, with a heart as
/ loyal as when he parted from her he re-
paired to Grace's house, only to find
her gone-where to no one could tell
At length, after long time spent in
| fruitless searching, a saddened and dis
appointed man, he left his native
country to seek foreign scenes.
But the diversions which had once
pleased him dragged now upon his
tastes, and at length he ceased to en-
deavOr to crush out of his heart the
haunting, ever-present memory of the
girl who had once saved his life, and
whom he still loved as passionately as
ever.
The end of a year again saw him IN
England. The first Sunday after his
return he accepted an invitation from a
friend to attend his church in the morn-
ing, and to return with him to dine.
The service was almost over, when
suddenly it seemed to John that the
heavens must have opened and an angel
descended therefrom, of such unusual
almost moro than mortal-sweetnesa
was the voice which sang the exquisite
air, al Know That Ny Redeemer
Liveth-"
"You VIII meet our soprano at dinner
to-day" said his friend, as they walked
leisurely homeward. "She is a great
friend Of my wife's.
Ali little did John know what a sur
prise awaited him. or his steps would
have been less deliberate.
Miss Burnham, my friend, Mr..
NIainwaring.
With a bewildered start John gazed
upon the face before him.
Could it be possible that this was the
Grace from whom he had parted for
ever; the fearless daughter Of the sea;
ignorant Of the world and its ways,
with all her artless soul shining out OF
her eyes-this stately, seIf-poss9ssed
woman?
Their eyes met, and at once 1t was
clear between them beyond needs for